2nd June, 2010
Prince Rotimi Agunsoye, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Lagos State, Nigeria, has revealed that the performance of the 20 local government councils and 37 development areas in the state are currently being assessed.
He stated that the councils, on resumption of office in October 2009, were given time to plan ahead for their various projects, saying that they varied in their planning duration which was between two and six months.
Agunsoye disclosed that in order to enhance the performance of the council chairmen and open their eyes to what they were coming to do in the office, an administrative retreat was organised for them immediately after their election.
“We made it clear to them that in Lagos State, it is work, because our determination is to serve the people and ensure that they get the best of government. So far, so good, the councils are not doing badly and we are currently assessing them.
“By the time we come out with our assessment, Lagosians will be able to know their various levels of performance. I have said earlier that we shall not hesitate to sanction any local government chairman that failed to perform and reward those who perform,†the commissioner explained.
He further revealed that so many non government organisations had written his ministry for permission to carry out independent assessment of the local governments and that he had given them the go ahead.
The commissioner, however, debunked the allegation that he was shielding some of the council chairmen from being exposed, stressing that he would expose anyone of them found wanting.
This, he said, made him to be moving round the local governments from time to time for periodical assessment.